Pachyphytum Oviferum (The Moonstones Succulent)

Moonstones are one of those succulents that give this plant group reverence. Its shape and color are just in line with why these members of succulents are priced aesthetic possessions.

You see, in the other plant types, green is all you’re getting and the occasional different colors when they bloom. Well, that’s still great. But since succulents entered the scene, good enough is no longer an option. Think about it – will you limit yourself with a few almost identical plants when you can get more than that in terms of shape, size, and color?

Of course not.

You’ll go for variety – and moonstones are among the available options. Dive in right below and get all the scoop about this cupcake succulent

Moonstones In The Botanical World

Moonstones belong to the genus Pachyphytum and the oviferum species. So in the botanical world, it goes by the name Pachyphytum oviferum – which is a reference to the shape of its leaves. More about the leaves later. But here’s a spoiler – the name of this succulent translates roughly to “thick plant that bears eggs”.

Can you guess the said shape of this succulent as from this translation?

Aside from the common name moonstones, this beauty is also called sugar almond plant – another name from the appearance of the leaves.

This succulent can grow in soil to a height of up to 10 cm and spreads around to 30 cm maximum around the soil as well. Stems are white and bare up to 15 leaves.

The leaves have a varying color combination – they can be either blueish-purple or a faded blue-green. This gives them a resemblance to a confection of sugared almond hence the name above. They are egg-shaped, a property that gave the plant the Pachyphytum oviferum scientific name.

Flowers come in winter and early spring. The petals are red-orange while the sepals have the same pigmentation as the leaves.

As with a good deal of succulents, moonstones are endemic to Mexico.

Learn how to plant your moonstone succulent correctly with “Choosing the Right Pot for Your Succulents“. See how to plant your succulents now.

Pachyphytum Oviferum Care

Pachyphyta overiferum has a penchant for thriving under minimal care – typical succulent tendencies. So with the occasional attention, you still have a high likelihood of having a cheerful plant. Good for the busy side of you.

But what if you’re just a starter with no idea how frequent this occasional checkup should be? What are the ideal conditions for your plant? Below is a checklist of what you need to keep an eye on – or at least try to.

Lighting

Moonstones can survive well both in full and partial sunlight. Your area will determine if it’s the former or the latter.

In areas with particularly intensely hot summers, you should make a point of shielding your plant off from the afternoon sun rays. Otherwise, a sunny spot for the moonstones is enough to give your plant the required dose of light energy.

Indoors, be sure to place your plant in a sunny window and make a point of rotating that pot every few days. Elongated stems and faded foliage won’t help in scoring the aesthetic appeal you’d wish for. We recommend this grow light to help out your little beauties.

Ideal climate

Sugaralmond plants fall in the USDA hardiness zone of between 10a to 11b. These are areas with temperature ranges of 30^o F to 50^o F (-1.1^oC – 10^o C). But as usual, there is always room for compromise.

On the lower side, temperatures of up to 20^o F (-6^o C) are tolerable. Anything beyond this point is a kiss of death for your plant. And that means frosty conditions should be avoided at all costs.

Bring your plant indoors when the very cold months set in.

Be sure to take a look at “Summer & Winter Succulents: What’s the Difference?” for a guide on how different seasons affect your succulents.

Watering your moonstones

The watering routine of the moonstones is identical to that of most succulents. That is you need to let the potting medium dry out between watering sessions. That way, you won’t have to deal with the menace that comes with root rot.

You can easily tell if your plant needs water by touching the leaves. A firm feel means they’re just fine. On the other hand, soft leaves mean you need to make it rain.

A precaution though – do this to the leaves near the base of the stem. You’re going to end up with a potted plant if you touch the other leaves. That isn’t particularly appealing.

Unlike most succulents, moonstones need more watering during the winter as this is its growing season. Keep that in mind.

While at it, make sure the water doesn’t come into contact with the leaves. They can easily be damaged.

Don’t miss out on our exclusive ebook “The Correct Way to Water Succulents” for a full guide to watering all your succulents. Check it out!

The best soil for moonstones

Any soil that retains water for long periods is a no for moonstones. Make sure to settle on a medium that drains first enough.

You can come up with one by mixing a few available materials – the most common are sand, perlite/pumice, and regular potting soil. A mixture of the three will give you the perfect potting medium for your plant. Another great combination is compost and sand.

Alternatively, you can skip all this and simply purchase a ready-made commercial cactus/succulent mix.

Interested in learning how to make your own mix? Check out “How to Make Your Own Succulent Soil at Home” for a full guide.

Propagation

Pachyphyta oviferum is easy to propagate via leaf cuttings. Follow the steps below

• Cut a young leaf from the center of the rosette
• Allow it some time for the cut part to callous – usually, a day is enough
• Place the leaf into a slightly moist well-draining potting mix
• Wait until a new rosette forms and repot the new rosette after enough roots have developed. Be sure to pluck off the older leaf.

You can speed up the rooting process by dipping the leaf-cutting in a rooting hormone before placing it in a potting medium. Also, instead of using a potting medium, consider replacing it with sand for better and faster rooting.

Need more tips to propagate your succulent? Check out “5 Tips for Propagating Succulents” for more.

Repotting Moonstones

Repotting is especially essential when you’ve just purchased your plant. You can also repot your moonstones if it has overgrown their current container.

The most important piece of the whole puzzle to consider is the potting mix – remember how it should be? No two ways about it.

Important to note also is the depth of the stem in the current container. When making that move, you must maintain the depth to protect the stem from rot.

Finally, remember the rule about leaves – no touching.

It is advisable to repot your plant during its active growth season – winter, that is. Give it some time to settle in before you resume the watering routine. Learn more by reading: “The Art of Repotting Succulents – The Right Way”.

ALSO READ:

• 16 Most Popular Succulents Species In The World-Different Kinds
• 5 Extremely Heat Tolerant Succulents
• Elephant Bush – Portulacaria Afra

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Moonstones can be purchased just about anywhere with a stock of succulents for sale. Be sure to check out our whole piece on “Where to Buy Succulents“.

Thank you for reading! Let us know in the comments below what succulents you have laying around inside your home?

Enjoyed learning about the moonstones succulent? If so, you’ll really enjoy our ebook about “Rare Succulents You Wish You Knew About“. With this ebook, you’ll find yourself more detailed answers that’ll help your succulent grow even better! With thousands of succulent lovers enjoying our ebooks, you don’t want to miss out on what works the best to grow your succulents.

Happy Planting!